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The Issues

While I have a variety of interests in seeking to improve
state government and exploring ways to reduce the burdens on the average
taxpayer, a few areas of special interest include:

Rigorous Education - Parts of the
national "No Child Left Behind Act" deserve our attention, including
the call for challenging curriculums for our students, directed by
highly qualified teacher. However, there is too much emphasis on
expensive testing and upon punishing, rather than helping, school
districts whose students may be underperforming. We also need to
ensure that students are well prepared for the challenges after high
school, whether that involves furthering their education or entering the
work force directly. That includes adequate counseling and career
education. And, as a member of the education subcommittee for the SD
Democratic Party, I support the education planks approved at the state convention.

Responsible Budgeting - If you want
someone familiar with operating on a tight budget, ask a non-profit
administrator. Government is not a business, but its functions should be
carried out in an economical and efficient manner, and the answer to every
problem is not necessarily to add more dollars or employees. We need to
look at innovative ways to streamline operations, and eliminate unneeded
or outdated functions. We also need to conduct the budgeting process in an
open and well considered manner, looking at it from a variety of
viewpoints, and not limit it to a few individuals or a single party
meeting in a backroom in the closing hours of a session.

Responsive Government - As a former
newspaper reporter, I have experience in dealing with public agencies and
ensuring that they handle the public's business in an open and responsible
way. That means records should be open for public review to the maximum
extent possible. It also means that meetings of governmental agencies --
from school boards to state boards - should be open and private
consultations allowed only to protect an individual employee's privacy or for very
limited negotiating sessions. The burden of showing when access is allowed
to meetings and records should be upon the government, not the individual
citizen. Such openness is the best insurance that operations will be
in the best interest of everyone, and not for the benefit of special
interests.

Ready to Work - No one will argue
that we need to work constantly for more jobs and better paying jobs in
our state. That means funding economic development activities, but it also
means insisting that businesses provided incentives for operating in the
state should agree to providing reasonable working wages for all
employees. We need to encourage the rights of working individuals,
while protecting our small businesses and family farms. And, we need to
make sure our workforce receives the education and training to handle the
demands of modern corporations.